August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

6 suitcases packed!!! 4 weight almost 50 lbs, the other 3 about 30!!! YIKES, I think I'm bring too much, oh well... I"m allowed 8 free, so I might as well use it!!!!!!! We leave here in 5 1/2 hours, so I'll see Mindy at dinner on Wed, Kim maybe around the hotel on Tues or Wed morning but definately at dinner on Wed, everyone else at the meet on Thurs!!!! So Au revoir everyone!!! Unforunately for us the weather in Paris isn't going to cooperate, it's going to be low 60's when we're there and RAINING!!!! So, on top of everything else, need to pack jeans!!!!!!
 
6 suitcases packed!!! 4 weight almost 50 lbs, the other 3 about 30!!! YIKES, I think I'm bring too much, oh well... I"m allowed 8 free, so I might as well use it!!!!!!! We leave here in 5 1/2 hours, so I'll see Mindy at dinner on Wed, Kim maybe around the hotel on Tues or Wed morning but definately at dinner on Wed, everyone else at the meet on Thurs!!!! So Au revoir everyone!!! Unforunately for us the weather in Paris isn't going to cooperate, it's going to be low 60's when we're there and RAINING!!!! So, on top of everything else, need to pack jeans!!!!!!

Since I'm an accountant by trade, I must point out that your math doesn't work...4 suitcases at 50 lbs and 3 at 30 = 7 suitcases...what the heck are you bringing? And you said you aren't bringing any formal wear? Are you going to do any laundry on the ship?
 
Since I'm an accountant by trade, I must point out that your math doesn't work...4 suitcases at 50 lbs and 3 at 30 = 7 suitcases...what the heck are you bringing? And you said you aren't bringing any formal wear? Are you going to do any laundry on the ship?

typo, meant 2.... lots of stuff..... probably too much.... no suit for DH or DS, but DD and I are bring dresses, not formal ones, but nicer ones.....
 

Hi Mike,
Really new to site and we are joining the cruise too. We are spending 4 nights post cruise in Barcelona. Where are you staying and have you booked anything yet in Barcelona before you go
Anything else that you have pre-booked - so behind this trip but have 2 days before we leave so still time - Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

Hello to all. We are a family of 4 (2Adults-Mike & Christine & 2 Children-Sara 9 & Ryan 7) from NY, and we'll be joining you all on the 8/18 Med. cruise.

We'll be staying 4 night pre. in Barcelona. We'd be interested in hooking up with anyone who is attempting to plan shore excursions during the cruise.

I guess thats about it for now. Looking forward to the trip, and possibly meeting some new friends...


Regards,
Mike & Co.
 
Hi Mike,
Really new to site and we are joining the cruise too. We are spending 4 nights post cruise in Barcelona. Where are you staying and have you booked anything yet in Barcelona before you go
Anything else that you have pre-booked - so behind this trip but have 2 days before we leave so still time - Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

fizzeo - Mike is already in Barcelona, so he might not get back to you.......
 
Still trying to figure out how best to manage:
1: phone and emails for blackberry with Telus - can use old phone with Rogers but not emails - still havent figured out cheapest way.

2: Did you exchange money in Toronto and if so where is the best or are you using the ATM's and which bank/card has the best rates

Last minute is not so much fun - I like it much better when I am properly prepared but any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated -
Thanks, Lisa
 
Can't believe not booked anything yet. In Naples is it easy to find train and are you going to Herculaneum, Pompeii and Vesuvius - Would also like to get to the coast at least Sorrento or over to Capri - is it possible in the day or am I delusional.
For Pisa do I have to pre-book and if so how do I know what time - Also will it still be possible to get to Florence and back or again dreaming?

Monte Carlo - is there something to see in Cannes - have you heard about th Cousteau Aquarium and what about the Grotto and Caves?

Did you book anything else - admissions etc beforehand?
All tips really welcomed - have you heard if there is a strike?,
Thanks,
Lisa ( with 4.5 year old and 13yr old):flower3:



We are very similar to you in plans, although with an almost 6 year old, things could change!

Doing our own Malta with a cab ( will arrange on the day). Not decided in Tunis yet (still researching!). Naples train, but will go to Herulanum, a few stops up from Pompeii, to go up Vesuvius. Rome train again, prebooked Colliseum. Spezia, train to the Pisa and a good climb and icecream! Ajaccio (not much there really), so market in the morning and then beach. Finally, the little train that runs between Montecarlo and Cannes, probably Montecarlo in the morning, there is a car museum and a toy museum, which will interest OH and DD, I will enjoy looking in the notoriously chic and very expensive shops :thumbsup2

Thanks for the links, very useful. I can see all our plans could go to 'pot' in Italy, if the strike hits!

Have a great day everyone.

Kate[/QUOTE]
 
Hi Mike,
Really new to site and we are joining the cruise too. We are spending 4 nights post cruise in Barcelona. Where are you staying and have you booked anything yet in Barcelona before you go
Anything else that you have pre-booked - so behind this trip but have 2 days before we leave so still time - Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

I didn't book anything in advance, but we'd like to go to Porto Aventura amusement park, and we're also planning on going to Montsserat on our own. We may also do the bike tour.

We are staying at the Ritz Carlton (Hotel Arts) great pool/beach. Nice respite from sightseeing...
 
welcome fizzeo and hi to everyone else.

today's a day to clean and do laundry. will also print out magnets. fe gifts all made and bagged and labeled. last night I asked jordak to create a license plate magnet for DD and she had it done in about 1 hour so not too late to put requests in. tomorrow all about packing. will go with 3 checked bags (one for each of us) and 3 carryon bags plus small cooler for DD's medicine.

hope to make the DIS meet on thursday. we have Palo at 11:30.

anyone flying out of JFK late tues afternoon on the delta flight?

safe travels everyone.

Mike, glad you made it there safely.

ellen
 
Hi Everyone....Just found this board while doing a google search...thought I would say Hello!
We are also traveling from Germany, we fly out Tues morning.
This is our first cruise and we're excited :yay:
We're a family of 4- Me, DH, dd- 7 1/2 and DS- almost 3. (he is potty trained and I am hoping the Oceaneer's Club takes him!)

We're almost packed, just need to get it into the bags, we're packing very light- 1 large case, 1 carry on case, 3 backpacks.(yes I do plan o doing laundry :)

Thanks for all the great info here, I need to make myself a cup of tea, I may be here reading awhile!
 
Hi Guys and Hola to Mike!!

I am pleased to say that all ironing finished, OH has been told that if anything else 'appears' he has to iron it himself.

Did some T shirts for dd with her name on and the cruise dates, I found last time it was useful for her first day in the kids club, as the CM could use her name! She kept saying 'how do they know my name mummy?' So if you see a very excited little girl in the terminal wearing a Tee with name and either Chip & Dale or Toy Story, say hello.

Some clothes are put out, magnets printed and FE Gifts bagged and labled (I had to put them in the bottom of the case and hide them from OH, as although they are light, take up far too much space;) I am feeling a bit more in control now, just decided whether to take laptop or not, last time I managed fine with my Iphone, but OH thinks it will be useful for downloading photos.

Fizzeo, in Naples you can do Pompei or Herculanum and Vesuvius. I don't think you could do all three unless you have a private driver.

The train is a 20 minute walk from the Port, not a pleasant walk, the central station is busy, but easy to use the station to get off for Herculanum is Ercalano, you can walk down the road to Herculaneum, there is a company who does trips up the volcano, just outside the station.

I don't really think you could do Sorrento and Pompeii/Herculaneum, again, unless you have a driver and spend little time at the sights. Capri is easy, there is a Hydrofoil over from not far from where the ship docks, but again that is more of a day trip. You may be able to do Capri and come back over, then do a taxi around the coast as the ships sails late, but it would depend on the times of the hydrofoil back.

Rome there is a train that goes regularly, you can prebook Colleseum tickets, this avoids the queues. If you want to arrange a tour, there are a few companies on the Cruise Critic website that people have used in the past, may be worth a look, just do a search for 'Cruise Critic' and it should come up.

Pisa there is a train and you can prebook the tower (a good idea, as the queues are long), but I don't think children Under 8 can go up. You could do Florence on the train, but it is a long journey and involves a change. I wouldn't risk this myself, no way can you do both, unless you have a private driver and again, you wouldn't do either justice. Pisa is interesting for the Tower, but there isn't a great deal there. Florence is amazing. I think Disney do a 'on your own' in Florence, where the coach takes you in and brings you back several hours later. Personally, if you haven't been to Florence you should do this over Pisa, but kids will like Pisa more!

In Villefranche (Monte Carlo/Nice), there is a little train that goes along the coast, which is easy to get. I would suggest you do a search to see what suits you. Monte Carlo is more showy, Nice is a big beach and shops. Not been to the Aquarium, but heard good things about it.

Hope this helps. I believe Rick Steves website has lots of info, although I haven't used this myself, maybe worth a look.

Kate
 
I am debating on booking the Herculaneum excursion or winging it.
We have used the trains in Italy and I found them easy to navigate, as long as there is not a strike!
I need to decide whether to keep my excursion.....Disney told me that if you plan on canceling anything it must be done 3 days prior to boarding.
 
I am debating on booking the Herculaneum excursion or winging it.
We have used the trains in Italy and I found them easy to navigate, as long as there is not a strike!
I need to decide whether to keep my excursion.....Disney told me that if you plan on canceling anything it must be done 3 days prior to boarding.

We have done Herculaneum previously on the train, with a stroller that time!!!

The worst bit is the walk to the train station, which is a long a very busy road. This time I think we will go over the road into the buildings and then walk along, it may be safer too!! Or take a cab, although the distance is probably not worth it!

When you get out of the station at Ercolano (or something like that, I haven't got my notes with me), walk straight accross and slightly to the right and down the hill. You will see Herculaneum in front of you. We found this amazing, much smaller and personal than Pompeii and much more like a town, with the houses almost intact. You can hire a handset, as you walk around, that tells you all about what you are seeing, a deposit is needed for these, so make sure you have some cash (don't leave your passport or credit card as a deposit!).

Kate
 
Can anyone tell me about stroller rentals on the ship?
DS is almost 3 and doesn't use his stroller too much, but would like to have one available just in case.......Are the Disney rentals ok?
 
Can anyone tell me about stroller rentals on the ship?
DS is almost 3 and doesn't use his stroller too much, but would like to have one available just in case.......Are the Disney rentals ok?

No idea, I think I read somewhere that they are the three wheel jogging type. We liked to have our own and used an umbrella stroller, which was definately needed when you are out all day. It was also useful to put bags and jackets on!.

If you go to the main cruise forum thread and use the seasrch option on the right, you should be able to get some information and some photos, it wasn't so long ago that a thread was running about them.

Kate
 

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